CNN=Politics Daily is The Best Political Podcast from The Best Political Team.

(CNN) – President Obama’s embraced the idea of paying educators according to their performance, but it’s a proposal that doesn’t play well with some key groups within his own party. In the latest installment of CNN=Politics Daily, CNN White House Correspondent Dan Lothian reports on the president’s vision to improve schools.

Plus: Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile join the education conversation, and talk about a controversial Washington Post op-ed that compares Obama to former President George W. Bush in Tuesday’s Strategy Session.

Also: It’s been 50 days since Barack Obama took the oath of office - how do you think the president is doing so far? CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider looks at what critics and supporters are saying.

Finally: A bloody new development that could affect President Obama’s plans to bring the troops home from Iraq. CNN Pentagon Correspondent Chris Lawrence looks at recent bombing spikes that could sidetrack U.S. withdrawal.

soundoff(64 Responses)

I think Gates said it all when he said he is smarter and actually read the intelligence briefings every single day, even on Sunday!

He has done more in 50 days that we have seen in the last eight years. I believe Health Care and Education will help build the economy.

God Bless America!

March 10, 2009 10:16 pm at 10:16 pm |

Texas Teacher

I'm depressed with all the talk of paying educators by performance. Where does that leave the Fine Arts Core Enrichment teachers? We work hard, we teach from a multicultural perspective, we relate our subject matter to every Core Fundamental subject. We work hard and get VERY little credit for it in the performance pay arena!

We don't teach to the test, we teach our subject matter AND we relate it to every other subject in the curriculum. Core Enrichment class are important! We teach the children so many things that they cannot get from fundamentals. We teach them to be creative, to use their brains in different ways, to focus for long periods of time that helps them to remembering and testing.

All over this country there are surveys proving that the most successful people in this country have a strong Fine Arts background! Fine Arts Matter... Fine Arts teach our children to think beyond the test! And that is what they need. We need to stop testing our children all year long and start TEACHING them! Then we can test them on the subject matter, and we can quickly tell if our children are learning or not!

March 10, 2009 10:17 pm at 10:17 pm |

Texas Teacher

I'm depressed with all the talk of paying educators by performance. Where does that leave the Fine Arts Core Enrichment teachers? We work hard, we teach from a multicultural perspective, we relate our subject matter to every Core Fundamental subject. We work hard and get VERY little credit for it in the performance pay arena!

March 10, 2009 10:17 pm at 10:17 pm |

Texas Teacher

Fine Arts teachers don't teach to the test, we teach our subject matter AND we relate it to every other subject in the curriculum. Core Enrichment class are important! We teach the children so many things that they cannot get from fundamentals. We teach them to be creative, to use their brains in different ways, to focus for long periods of time that helps them to remembering and testing.

March 10, 2009 10:17 pm at 10:17 pm |

Texas Teacher

All over this country there are surveys proving that the most successful people in this country have a strong Fine Arts background! Fine Arts Matter... Fine Arts teach our children to think beyond the test! And that is what they need. We need to stop testing our children all year long and start TEACHING them! Then we can test them on the subject matter, and we can quickly tell if our children are learning or not!

March 10, 2009 10:18 pm at 10:18 pm |

Texas Teacher

Fine Arts teachers don't teach to the test, we teach our subject matter AND we relate it to every other subject in the curriculum. Core Enrichment class are important! We teach the children so many things that they cannot get from fundamentals. We teach them to be creative, to use their brains in different ways.

March 10, 2009 10:19 pm at 10:19 pm |

30m-Democrat-voted Clinton then McCain

I give him an F for relying to heavily on that teleprompter.

March 10, 2009 10:22 pm at 10:22 pm |

John from California

Well I give President Obama a grade of A++ since he has accomplished more in 50 days than the last president did in eight years.

People need to get real with their expectations after all, this president was handed a bankrupt country fighting a war of choice in Iraq.

March 10, 2009 10:25 pm at 10:25 pm |

rorsharch

hhhmmmmrrrpphh…..
Again, seems like the one elected is able to do nothing but campaign. Then they have the gall to look into the faces of the war broken and say "pay us" and we will say to them "no".

March 10, 2009 10:30 pm at 10:30 pm |

Jan Illinois

It is a hell hole now, it was a hell hole when we arrived and it will be a hell hole when we depart . Keep your promise Mr. President, many more than enough of our bravest and best have fallen there, and to what gain? Certainly nothing worth the breath of one of our own.

March 10, 2009 10:31 pm at 10:31 pm |

Jeff H

President Obama is pushing hard to make changes to a government that unfortunately has grown very polarized at a critical time in history when we need everyone "pulling on the oars" in unison. I would give the President high marks for trying to get our country back on its feet quickly. Have there been mistakes, sure, but he has admitted them and his team is working to get America rolling again.

Republicans like Senator Shelby need to come out of the ether and realize we are in a crisis in this country and work with the incumbents. Thxs for listening.

March 10, 2009 10:37 pm at 10:37 pm |

Whiskey

Let's not have a short memory on how we got here.

March 10, 2009 10:43 pm at 10:43 pm |

Sandra in SC

A+++
President Obama has been "Superman" in his first 50 days. He has accomplished more in 50 days than any president in their first 50.

March 10, 2009 10:44 pm at 10:44 pm |

deborah small

can you address why president obama's picture is still not up in federal goverment buildings? We don't want to say it's a race thing but what's really going on? Thank you, deborah